Introduction :-
Paradise Lost , Epic poem in blank verse, one of the late works by John Milton, originally issued in 10 books in 1667 and, with books 7 and 10 each split into two parts , published in 12 books in the second edition of 1674.
Many scholars consider Paradise Lost to be one of the greatest poems in the English language . It tells the biblical story of the fall from grace of Adam and Eve in language that is a supreme achievement of rhythm and sound . The 12 books structure , the technique of beginning in medias res, the invocation of the muse, and the use of the Epic question are all classically inspired. The subject matter , however , is distinctly Christian .
Summary :
With Raphael’s departure for Heaven, the story no longer consists of conversations between heavenly beings and humankind. Milton explains that he must now turn to Adam and Eve’s actual act of disobedience. The poem must now turn tragic, and Milton asserts his intention to show that the fall of humankind is more heroic than the tales of Virgil and Homer. He invokes Urania, the “Celestial Patroness” (IX.21) and muse of Christian inspiration, and asks for her to visit him in his sleep and inspire his words, because he fears he is too old and lacks the creative powers to accomplish the task himself. He hopes not to get caught up in the description of unimportant items, as Virgil and Homer did, and to remain focused on his ultimate and divine task.
Satan returns to the Garden of Eden the night after Raphael’s departure. Satan’s return comes eight days after he was caught and banished by Gabriel. He sneaks in over the wall, avoiding Gabriel and the other guards. After studying all the animals of the Garden, Satan considers what disguise he should assume, and chooses to become a snake. Before he can continue, however, he again hesitates—not because of doubt this time, but because of his grief at not being able to enjoy this wondrous new world. He struggles to control his thoughts. He now believes that the Earth is more beautiful than Heaven ever was, and becomes jealous of Adam and Eve and their chosen status to occupy and maintain Paradise. He gripes that the excess beauty of Earth causes him to feel more torment and anguish. Gathering his thoughts into action, he finds a sleeping serpent and enters its body.
The next morning, Adam and Eve prepare for their usual morning labors. Realizing that they have much work to do, Eve suggests that they work separately, so that they might get more work done. Adam is not keen on this idea. He fears that they will be more susceptible to Satan’s temptation if they are alone. Eve, however, is eager to have her strength tested. After much resistance, Adam concedes, as Eve promises Adam that she will return to their bower soon. They go off to do their gardening independently.
In Genesis the fall is narrated from God's perspective . The character of Eve, Adam and Satan are flat and emotionless . Many questions remain unanswered in God's justice. In Milton's Paradise Lost , we find the same story told from Human perspective . Eve is responsible for man's downfall , but she eats the fruit out of her curiosity because she wants to gain knowledge and wants to be equal to Adam. We find Adam is driven by human emotions .
1) Write a critical note on character of Eve.
Answer ) Eve makes a logical suggestion in Book -9 that if she and Adam separated for a time, they would not be distracted by each other and would be able to get more work done. Adam warns Eve of the envious Satan. Eve replies that she can be trusted. Eve argues that Satan will tempt Adam first . But Satan tempts Eve first. In love, Adam decides to be lifted or doomed with her. Eve is deceived by false reason; Adam is deceived by her love and charm.
Eve is the first to do the sin, she makes a reasonable arrangement that Adam is as guilty . First she says that he would have been deceived just as she was; the Serpent was just that clever. Then she says that if Adam truly knew Eve's weakness and the power of the "Foe" , he would never have let her go off alone. Eve makes a convincing argument that Adam is equally guilty .
2) whose arguments did you find more convincing ?
Answer ) I can find Eve's arguments are more convincing . In the Paradise Lost , Eve is character in whom the inevitability of rebellion seems most obvious .
. . . her rash hand in evil hour
Forth reaching to the fruit,
She pluck'd, she eat;
Earth felt the wound, and
Nature from her seat
Sighing through all her works
Gave signs of woe,
That all was lost.
In these lines Eve determines to Change the world and disobey to the god by eating the fruit of knowledge . In fact she eats the 'fruit of death' . Her desire to be independence and knowledgeable leads her to rebel against the god. Eve had the chance to choose to obey their God rather than the anxiety of gaining the knowledge . Eve also makes the Adam to eat fruit by saying that it is the fruit which may open his eyes and makes him equal to god. Eve thinks that if she would die and after that if Adam is replaced by another Eve then and then. That's why out of her jealousy after her consumption of forbidden knowledge she decides it would be better for her and Adam to die together . Eve also encourages him to eat the fruit by saying that "Adam, freely taste". She offers him a healthy protein fruit and he eats it. By disobeying God in thus way Eve has gained neither equality nor freedom . In fact shw has lost paradise and brought sin and death into the world .
3) How do you look at divine perspective in the Genesis of the Holy Bible and Human perspective in John Milton's Paradise Lost book 9 ?
Answer ) Before the renaissance and reformation, there was a god centric world and people had a blind faith in God. But after the renaissance and reformation god centric world was replaced with Humancentric one. All the stories in scriptures which were earlier told from divine perspective , now all were told from human perspective and human was at the centre of universe.
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